Chill head coach Degenhardt announces resignation at the end of season

March 7, 2016

The Coulee Region Chill, proud members of the NAHL, have announced that head coach AJ Degenhardt will be resigning from his position as head coach and general manager, effective the end of the 2015-16 season. Degenhardt has accepted a position with his previous employer, Team Illinois for the 2016-17 hockey season.

“From day one I’ve been committed to making the Chill a successful program and am extremely proud of our accomplishments,” Degenhardt said. I’m excited about working with the Team Illinois group again and helping those young players achieve their dream of playing juniors and college hockey. My focus right now is to have the Chill make the playoffs and continue to advance our players to the college level.”

Coulee Region Chill owner Michelle Bryant supported Degenhardt’s decision 100%. “It is something that is best for AJ and his family and we support his decision. AJ has our program on the rise and the boys have been playing really well as of late. He has developed our team to a point where NCAA commitments and winning are the expectation. AJ is leaving us with a strong team nucleus, in which we will build on this momentum moving into next season,” Bryant said. We thank AJ for his contributions over the last four years and wish his family only the best.”

Under Degenhardt the Chill have compiled a record of 85-72-10, which includes a 26-21-0 record this season. In 2013-14, Degenhardt’s first full season as Head Coach, the team won a franchise record 31 games. Last season, the Chill finished 3rdand had the eventual Robertson Cup Champion Minnesota Wilderness down 2-0 in the first round playoff series, before falling 3-2 in the Midwest Division Semi-Final Series.